Dispensing apparatus



June 6,1944.

J. R. SONNEBORN ETAL 2,350,336

DISPENS ING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 23, 1941 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June'fi,1944. J. R. SONNEBORN ETAL 2,350,836

DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Oc'c 23, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,ATTORNEY.

Patented June 6, 1944 DISPENSING APPARATUS John R. Sonneborn, WillowGrove, and Ludwig H. Lange, Rockledge, Pa., assignors to Stokes & SmithCompany, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania ApplicationOctober 23, 1941, Serial No. 416,194

10 Claims.

Our 'invention'relates to dispensers for opening and directing dischargeof the contents of containers filled with liquid or readily flowinggranular or powdered'solids.

In accordance with one aspect of our invention, the filling; such as oilor other liquid, is disposed Within a sealed inner container of flexibleweb material, such as P1iofilm,'polyvinyl alcohol, or the like, enclosedby an outer container or carton of cardboard or similar materialpreferably having a wall section'which conveniently may be folded backor removed for access to or exposure of the sealed filled innercontainer.

Further in accordance with our invention, a lance or piercing toolwithin the dispenser punctures the container when pushed into it;preferably the piercing tool is provided with a barb effective uponpartial retraction of the container to extend the puncture to thelowermost portion of the container so to ensure drainage of all of itscontents.

Our invention further resides in the dispenser hereinafter described andclaimed.

For an understanding of our invention, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view, partly in sec-' tion, and with partsbroken away, of a dispenser;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the dispenser of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3, on enlarged scale, and in section, shows valve mechanism of thedispenser of Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 4, in perspective, shows aliquid-filled container;

Fig. 5, in' perspective, shows the container of Fig. 4 in a carton, inpart broken away and incompletely sealed; I I

Fig. 6, in perspective,'illustrates a subsequent stage of sealing of thecarton of Fig.

Fig. '7, in perspective, shows the completed package in readiness forintroduction into the dispenser of Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 8, in perspective, illustrates the action of the piercing tool ofthe dispenser;

Fig. 9, in perspective, illustrates appearance of the bottom of thecontainer after operation thereon of the barbed piercing tool.

- Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, two opposite sides of the carton receivingchamber or receptacle I of the dispenser 2 are formed by the plates 3A,3B which extend beyond chamber I to form the base 4 of the dispenser.The inclined front wall 5 of chamber I is formed by suitable platestructure extending between and joined, as by soldering or welding, tothe side walls 3A, 3B.."'The rear wall 6 of chamber I, substantiallyparallel to the front wall 5, extends between the side walls 3 and isattached to or is a continuation of them; The bottom '1 of chamber Icomprises a plate suitably attached to the front, back and side walls asby soldering or welding.

To facilitate introduction into chamber I of a package P, Fig. 7, theupper open end 8 of the chamber I may be flared outwardly. The handle 9is provided to permit the dispenser conveniently to be held in, or movedto,'proper position for drainage of the package contents to theirdestination, for example into the crank case of an automobile.

The dispenser is so constructed that when its base 4 is substantiallyhorizontal, the bottom 1 of chamber I is inclined at an angle of about30 as we have found this angle provides for complete drainage of a moreor less viscous liquid, as oil, from the container P when disposedwithin chamber I. 1

The piercing tool or lance I0 preferably, Fig. 8, comprises a pointedmember of increasing V shaped cross section from tip' to base. Near itsbase, the tool II) is provided with a barb I I whose downwardly directedtip is spaced from the front wall 5 of chamber l by not much more thanthe thickness of the front wall of the carton or package. The bifurcatedlower end of the piercing tool I0 is secured tobottom I and straddlesthe opening I2 in the dispenser bottom 1, which opening, Fig. 1, extendsall the Way to the front wall 5 with avoidance of any lip or trough inthe lowermost corner of chamber I The false bottom or plate I3 issuitably attached, as by screw I4, to a plunger I5 extendingthroughplate l and exteriorly of chamber I slidably received by guidetube [6. The spring I1, compressed between the head of the hollowplunger I5 and the lower en'dof cap [8 of guide tube I6, biases theplate 1'3 to the position shown in Fig. 1, the lip or shoulder I9 at thelower end of plunger I5 serving by its engagement with the lower end ofguide tube I6 to serve as a stop.

The plate I3 is provided with a notch or opening 20 sufficiently largeto permit it to be forced to its extreme lowermostposition withoutobstructionby the piercingtool I0.

As shown in Fig. '3,- the opening I2 of bottom I is in communication.with the chamber 2I one wall of which is defined by part of the sideplate 3A of the dispenser and whose other wall structure 22 extendstherefrom toward the other side wall '33 to serve as oneof the pivots orbearings for the tiltable dispensing snout 23. The other pivot orbearing, preferably adjustable, is afforded by member 24 threadablyreceived by bracket 25 connected atits upper end to bottom plate I andat its lower end to the side wall 33;

having an opening 25A through which a screw- "driver or other tool maybe inserted for adjustportion of the valve shank '30 which is externalto the dispenser serves as a support forlarm .33 loosely mounted thereonand whose hub, is shaped to form a cam. i

The arm 331s ,pivotally'c'onnected, as by pin 35, to the operating[member 36 whose upper end isbent into the shape of an inverted letterU. The uppermost horizontal portion 3'! of the member 36 'may bedepressed by the thumb of the operator without need for him to shift theposition of his hand, right or left, with respect to the handle 9;" Thevertical portions of the member 36 are freely slidable in the bearingmembers 38 extending outwardly from the sides 3A, 3. The springs 39,each disposed about a vertic'al portion of member 36 between one of thebearings '38 and an adjustable stop 40 on member 35, bias the arm 33 tothe position shown in Figs. 2 and 3 for which the valve 21 is closed.When member '31 is depressed, the cam saw its engagement with .pin M ofvalve shank moves the valve '2! to the left, Fig. 3, so permittingliquid to flowffrom chamber I into the snout 23. Assuming the lower endof the snout is, as usual by previous pivotal movement thereof, belowthe bottom of chamber I all of the liquid will be drained. therefrom.

; The inner container I, Fig. 4, is of type disclosed in Maxfield Patent2,154,521. As therein described, it is 'formedby sealing together at S2the'margins of a Web of. Pliofilm, orsimilar material,to form a'tubewhich mayv beeither single ply or 'multi-ply; in the latter case, the'plies may be of the same or different web material. By concurrentapplication of heat and pressure,

- there is produced a seal '8: transversely ofnthe tube above which acharge of filling, such as a predetermined quantity of oil or otherliquid, or 'of freely flowing granular or powdered solids, is introducedinto the tube. The tube is then flattened above the filling and byconcurrent application of heatand pressure, there is produced a secondseal SI forming the top of the filled'container; Suitable mechanisms forforming liquid filled containers of this and 'equivalent'types aredisclosed in Maxfield Patent 2,199,708 andSonnebornfet a1. Patent2,200,971. By modification thereof, these machines maybe used to. makepackages having the appearance ofiFig. 4 but in which the seals'areproduced 'b'y moistening the web material with a solvent "before orconcurrently-with application "of' pressure.

Such liquid-filled containers arejcomp'aratively vulnerable "to roughhandling or contact with sharpfobjects; consequently for storage andtransportation, they preferably are individually disposed-in cartonssuch as carton C, Fig. 5, preferably reetangularinpross'section and ofcardboard 'or other suitable material.

Preferably,=the bottom of thecarton C is pro- =vid'edwitl-ra flapF,-defined by scoring or other- 76 wise weakening the cardboard, whichmay, when it is desired to use the contents of the package, be foldedback or torn off to expose the inner container I. For best drainage, theflap F is so .located that the opening W afforded thereby extends allthe way to that corner of the package which is lowermost, Figs. 1 and 8,when the package isintroduced into the receptacle l of the dispenser 2.

As the package is pushed downwardly toward 'the bottom of receptacle l,the tip 4| of the piercing tool lfl punctures the inner container of webmaterial I within the window W. The tapered sides of the piercing toolIn expand the puncture as downward movement of the package is continued,the V shape of the piercing tool cutting in the exposed area .of webbinga Vshaped gate G which becomes larger and larger as the bottom of thepackage approaches the bottom '1 of receptacle I. When the package isreleased, after it has been pushed downwardly as far as possible, thespring 11, through plate I3, forces the package to move in reversedirection and during this movement the barb H of the piercing tool iseffective to enlarge the puncture by tearing the exposed webbing all theway to the lowermost corner of the carton, Fig. 9, .so to ensure thatall of the filling will substantially immediately flow from the innercontainer I.

Furthermore when the container wall I is of Pliofilm, or similarmaterial, it is not wetted by'the oil as in the case of metalcontainers, with the result there is no significant adherence of the oilin film, or other form, to the inside of the package. Therefore it isnot necessary, as is the case with metal containers, to includeanadditional several ounces of oil to insure that the purchaser. receivesfrom the package or container the quantity stated on its face.

When the carton C is of proper size andshape, there is little or notendency for the inner container I to fall or collapse during drainingof filling therefrom. However collapse maybe positively prevented,without close regard for the relative sizes of the inner and outercontainers, by following the method of sealing illustrated in Figs. 5and 6. After the filled container I is disposed within carton C, theprojecting upper portion Y thereof is held upright until after the sideflaps XI and X2 have been swung inwardly to their horizontal position,Fig, .5. The rear edges of the flaps XI and X2 may be notched or cutaway, Fig. 6, to accommodate the thickness of the top Y of container I.The projecting upper portion Y of the inner container I is then foldedover, Fig. 5, against the upper faces of the flaps X l and X2 and thefront and rear .fiaps X3, X4 in sequence swung inwardly into adhesive.engagement with each other and with the fiaps .XI and X2 thus tocomplete and to seal the .top of the package. N

The turned over portion Yof the inner container I is thus firmly held sothat in effect when the package? is in-the dispenser the inner containerI is suspended from the top of theQcarton C and-cannot collapse or fall,with .possible entrapment of liquid, as the .liquid drains-therefrominto the dispenser receptacle 1. f f f 'Our invention-comprehends alsothe case when the filled container of web material is employed alone,without recourse to or inzcombination-with an outer enclosing container,carton, or equiv;- alent. In such case the filled container of webmaterial in passing downwardly in chamber I first encounters the memberH] which pierces it, and then encounters the barb H which enters thecontainer, whereafter the container in reverse movement thereof,eifected either manually alone, or with the assistance of spring IT, orby such spring solely, is torn by the barb i I to effect a non-closingaperture of enlarged size sufficient for procuring rapid drainage fromthe container.

What we claim is:

1. A dispenser comprising a receptacle for receiving a filled container,and a tool within said receptacle having a tip for puncturing thecontainer as it is pushed toward the bottom of the receptacle andtapered sides for extending the puncture upon further movement of thecontainer toward the bottom of the receptacle, means for effectingreverse movement of said container when released, and a barb on saidtool outwardly tearing said container upon reverse movement thereof toenlarge the puncture to ensure rapid drainage of said container.

2. A dispenser comprising a receptacle for receiving a filled container,a tool within said receptacle for puncturing the container as it isforced toward the bottom of the receptacle, means for effecting reversemovement of the container when released, and a barb having a downwardlyand outwardly directed tip effective during said reverse movement forenlarging the puncture.

3. A dispenser comprising a receptacle for receiving a filled containerand having an inclined bottom provided with a draining opening extendingto the lowermost portion thereof, a piercing tool within said receptaclefor puncturing the container near its lowermost portion when forcedtoward said bottom, means for effecting reverse movement of thecontainer when released, and a barb directed toward said portion of thecontainer efiective during said reverse movement to enlarge the punctureby tearing the container outwardly and downwardly of its said lowermostportion.

4. A dispenser comprising a receptacle for receiving a carton having anopening for exposing an inner filled container of web material, and apiercing tool within said receptacle disposed to pass through saidopening and puncture said inner container as the carton is forced towardthe bottom of said receptacle and having a barb which passes throughsaid opening and said puncture effective upon reverse movement of thecarton outwardly to tear the web material and shape it into a spoutextending through said opening in the carton.

5. A dispenser comprising a receptacle for receiving a carton having anopening for exposing an inner filled container of web material, saidreceptacle having an inclined bottom provided with a draining apertureextending to the lowermost portion thereof, a piercing tool within saidreceptacle disposed to pass through said carton opening and puncture theinner container of web material near its lowermost portion as the cartonis forced toward said bottom, means for effecting reverse movement ofthe carton when released, and a barb entering the inner container withsaid tool effective upon said reverse movement of the carton to tear theweb material and form a spout from the lowermost portion of the innercontainer through said opening in the carton.

6. A dispenser comprising a receptacle for a filled container, a memberin said receptacle against which said container is forwardly thrust,means opposing the movement of said member imparted thereto by forwardmovement of said container and upon release of said container effectingreverse movement thereof, a tool engaged by said container in itsforward movement to initiate a discharge opening in the wall of saidcontainer, and means enlarging said opening upon reverse movement ofsaid container.

7. A dispenser comprising a receptacle for a filled container, a memberin said receptacle against which said container is forwardly thrust,means opposing the movement of saidmember imparted thereto by forwardthrust of said container and upon release of said container effectingreverse movement thereof, a tool engaged by said container in itsforward movement to initiate a discharge opening in the wall of saidcontainer, and means on said tool outwardly tearing the wall of saidcontainer to enlarge said opening upon reverse movement of saidcontainer.

8. Dispensing apparatus comprising a receptacle for a filled container,a member in said receptacle against which said container is forwardlythrust, means opposing the movement of said member imparted thereto byforward movement of said container and upon discontinuance of thrustupon said container effecting reverse movement of said container, a toolengaged by said container in its forward movement to effect a dischargeopening in the wall of said container, and a barb on said tool enlargingsaid opening upon reverse movement of said container.

9. Dispensing apparatus comprising a receptacle for a filled container,a bottom for said receptacle having an aperture, a false bottom in saidreceptacle against which said container is forwardly thrust, said falsebottom having an aperture, means opposing the movement of said falsebottom imparted thereto by the forward movement of said container andupon discontinuance of thrust upon said container effecting reversemovement of said container, a tool mounted adjacent said aperture insaid bottom and projecting through the aperture in said false bottom foreffecting a discharge opening in the wall of said container whenforwardly thrust, and a member on said tool enlarging said opening uponreverse movement of said container.

10. Dispensing apparatus comprising a receptacle for a filled containerenclosed by an outer container, said outer container having an aperture,a bottom for said receptacle having an aperture, a false bottom in saidreceptacle against which said containers are forwardly thrust, said.false bottom having an aperture, all said apertures disposed inoperative alignment for discharge therethrough of contents of said innercontainer, means opposing the movement of said false bottom impartedthereto by the forward movement of said outer container and upondiscontinuance of thrust upon said containers effecting revers movementof said containers, a tool passing through the apertures in said falsebottom and said outer container for effecting a discharge opening in thewall of said inner container where exposed by said aperture in saidouter container, and a member on said tool enlarging the said openingupon reverse movement of said inner container.

JOHN R. SONNEBORN. LUDWIG H. LANGE.

